Multiple spindle mechanism



June 3, 1947. E. H. MOAK MULTIPLE SPINDLE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 10, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. v Faye/7e f7, BY W Y/Zbm 4,

June 3, 1947.

E. H. MOAK MULTIPLE SPI NDLE MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 10, 1945 a mm mm Hm WM BY I ' flrrzrr/iiys,

June 3, 1947. E. H. MOAK MULTIFLE SPINDLE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 10, 1945 INVENTOR. Fu -7617a /7 Moa%.

BY I v t fl'TTb/F/YEYS;

Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE M'ULTIPLE SPINDLE MECHANISM Application August 10, 1945, Serial No.6-10,024

12 Claims.

The invention relates generally to boring machines and it has particular relation to a multiple spindle type of boring machine.

While the invention relates to a multiple spindle type of machine, it is more particularly related to a machine of this character wherein one spindle is movable relative to the other so that the movable spindle may be moved to a position where it is closely adjacent to the other spindle or to I21, position substantially separated from such other spindle. Machines having multiple spindles of this character are used especially in furniture or other wood fabricating factories where it is necessary to bore openings in variably spaced relation. Therefore, while the present invention has general use and genenal application, it perhap is more especially applicable in the fabrication of furniture or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of multiple spindle machine having one spindle movable towards and from the other, wherein the adjustment of the spindle may be accomplished readily and easily without disturbing the driving relation between the spindles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of multiple spindle machine, wherein one spindle is driven by means of a chain drive engaging the other spindle and wherein the spindles may be adjusted relatively without disturbing the chain. driving engagement between th spindles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple spindle machine of the last mentioned chlaracter wherein the chain is automatically maintained in a taut condition during adjustment of the spindles and with the spindles in any adjusted relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine such as mentioned wherein the movable spindle projects through an elongated slot in th machine casing and wherein means are provided for automatically maintaining the slot substantially closed during adjustment of the spindles and after adjustment, except for the opening accommodating the spindle.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, from the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional View of .a machine constructed according to one form of the inven- 2 tion, as seen substantially along the line 'I--l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1';

Fi 3 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view-similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the parts in an intermediate stage of adjustment;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the mechanism showing the slot closing means;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 3; and,

lg. 8 is an enlargement of the structure shown in the circular area indicated at 8 in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs.1, 2 land 3 in particular, the mechanism illustrated is mounted in a casing which includes a lower part II] and an upper part or cover l'l. These parts of the casing are provided with mating flanges l2 and 13, respectively, which are secured together at spiaced points around the casing by means of bolts [4. A primary drive spindle is indicated at l5 and this spindle extends entirely through the casing and projects beyond opposite sides thereof. One end of the spindle is shown as provided with a suitable collet 16 adapted to hold a boring tool or the like l1, while the other end of the shaft is driven by any suitable power means. For instance, this "end of the shaft may have a. gear which may be driven by a second gear on the shaft of an electric motor or the like.

The shaft I5 is mounted in laterally spaced bearing supports i8 and It) at opposite sides of the casing, and each of these supports may comprise a lower part 26 integral with the casing and an upper complimentary part 2| which is fastened to the lower part by means of bolts 22. Suitable roller bearings 23, such as needle bearings, are provided in each of the supports 18 and 59. Also a suitable thrust bearing 24 is provided on a reduced portion '25 of the spindle, and this bearing is held in the support l3 so as to take end thrust on the spindle.

A second spindle indicated at 26 which is parallel to the spindle I5, projects through a slot 21 in the side of the casing and has a suitable collet adapted to' hold a second boring tool or the like 28. This second spindle is mounted in bearing supports 29 and 30 carried on opposite sides of a slide 3! located within the casing. Each of the supports 29 and 30, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, includes a lower part 33 integral with the slide and an upper part 34 secured to the lower part by bolts 35. Suitable bearings such as needle bearings 35, are provided around the spindle within the bearing supports. A suitable end thrust bearing 31 is provided on a reduced portion on the inner end of the spindle 25, and this thrust bearing is held in the support 35 so as to take endwise thrust on the spindle when the boring tool is in operation. Attention is directed to the fact that the inner vertical side walls on the bearing supports on both spindles, as indicated at 55, are substantially tangential to the roller bearings, and this is desirable so as to permit moving the spindle 25 close to the spindle l5.

The slide 3!, as best shown by Figs, 1 and 2, is formed with a dovetail slot having upwardly diverging side surfaces 45 and M, respectively, and such portions of the slide are guided along a a dovetail indicated at 42 which has upwardly inclined side surfaces 43 and i4. Such side surfaces.

40 and 43 directly engage each other, but a gib 46 is provided between the surfaces and M5 and has surface 41 and 48 mating therewith. The surfaces 48, 43, M and 43 are straight and parallel and consequently, the slide 3| will have a straight guideway along 'which it may be moved. However, the surfaces 44 and M are longitudinally angled relative to the other surfaces, as best shown in Fig. 3, and from this it should follow that if the gib is pulled lengthwise, it will bind between the surfaces 4| and A l, and consequently will lock the slide in place. When the gib is lossened slightly, however, the slide may be moved easily.

Locking of the slide in position by moving the gib 45 in this manner can be accomplished by a handwheel 50 on the end of the casing which is connected to a screw 5| in turn threaded into the end of the gib. Movement of the slide 3! along the guideway may be effected by a handwheel 52 which is fastened to a screw 53 extending through the end of the casing and through an opening 54 in the slide. The screw 53 is threaded through a nut 55 which is disposed in an opening 56 in the slide and consequently when the screw is turned, the slide will move. It should now be evident that the slide carrying the spindle 26 may be moved back and forth with respect to the spindle I5 and that it may be positively locked in any position by turning the handwheel 55 so as to pull the gib 45 into wedging relation with the surfaces ll and 44. An adjustable set screw 58 in the end of the casing is adapted to be engaged by the slide so as to limit movement of the latter and prevent strain on the chain when the wheel 52 is turned.

Driving of the spindle 26 by the spindle i5 is effected by means of a silent chain indicated at 6B which is trained about a sprocket 6| on the drive spindle l6 and about a second sprocket 62 on the spindle 26. This chain necessarily must be long enough to permit the spindle 26 to be moved to its position where it is farthest from the spindle l6, and also it must be taken up when the spindles are close together. In order to take up the slack in the chain at all times, and maintain the chain in a taut condition so that it will be silent and will eiTect its driving action emciently and properly, devices are provided which automatically operate as the shaft 25 is adjusted, to take up the slack.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, the chain take up means includes a sprocket 65 which is mounted on the central portion of an idler shaft 65, and this idler shaft, as best shown by Fig. 3, is carried by and projects through openings 68 and 69 in the ends of a pair of legs 15 and H,

respectively. The legs 10 and H project respectively through apertured bosses '52 and 13 on the sides of cam arms 14 and 75, and each of the legs is adjustably mounted in its aperture by means of a set screw 15. Also an end thrust screw 11 is threaded into the end of the boss for engagement with the end of the leg so as positively to provide a thrust bearing holding the leg against endwise movement. It follows that any pull by chain on the idler sprocket and idler sprocket shaft will be positively stopped by the thrust means preventing inward movement of the legs iii and H.

The two cams arms 14 and F5 are swingable on shaft I5 and have hub shaped ends '58 and 19 provided with bushings and 8! which turnably fit the shaft. Attention is directed at this time to the fact that the hub portions 18 and 19 have portions of their peripheries cut away as indicated at 82 in Fig, '7, and this is desirable so as to permit movement of the spindle 26 to a position close to the spindle [5 without interference on the part of the hubs.

The dovetail element 42 is open at its center so as to permit movement of the cam arms, chain and associated parts but its end portion extends across the end of the casing. At such end the casing is of reduced depth and the central portion of the dovetail is secured to the bottom wall of the casing by means of a bolt 85. The central part of the dovetail is open to accommodate the cam arms and chain and the two side or leg portions of the dovetail are fastened by bolts 81 and 88 to brackets 89 and Si! integral with the casing.

As perhaps best shown by Fig. 4, each of the cam arms M and i5 has a cam surface 90 extending along its length, and this cam surface engages a cam follower or roller SI carried by an arm 92. Two of the arms 92 are thus provided for engagement with the two cam arms M and 15, and these two arms 92 are interconnected by cross-plate portion 94, which is fastened by bolts 95 to the slide 3!. As the slide 3| moves along, the two rollers 91! bear against and move with the two cam arms.

If it is desired to adjust the spindle 26 with respect to the spindle if), the wheel 50 is loosened and then the wheel 52 is turned so as to move the slide M. This adjustment may be accomplished while the spindles are rotating or when stationary and this is particularly desirable because the adjustment can be readily made even while the spindles are rotating at high speed. When the slide is adjusted lengthwise of the casing, the rollers 9| in contact with the cam surfaces 90 will cause the cam arms to move about the axis of the spindle i5 and since the cam arms carry the idler sprocket 55, this sprocket will be swung downwardly as the slide moves. The cam surfaces are so designed or generated that progressively with the movement of the slide the idler sprocket 65 will move in accordance with the Variation in chain slack that would otherwise be present, and will maintain the chain in a taut condition at all times.

When the shaft 26 been moved as near to the shaft 55 as it can be moved, the cam arms will be moved by the cam rollers to positions shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, and it is to be understood that the fiats'82 on the hubs l8 and 19 will now be located in vertical positions next to he shaft 25 so as to permit such movement of the shaft 25. The first return movement of the spindle 26 causes the cam arms to follow the cam rollers through pull on the chain, orin other words, the chain will raise the idler sprocket 65 Contact between thecam'surfac'es and rollers at all times will maintain the chain in properly taut condition.

It has been indicated previously that the movable spindle 26 projects through a slot 21 in the casing sidewall, and it follows that unless some means is provided for closing the slot, dirt may enter the casing and perhaps lubricant escape therefrom. It is desirable therefore to maintain the slot closed even during movement of the spindle.

This result is obtained, as seen in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, by providing an auxiliary casing element we on the side of the casing ID and over the slot 2?, and this element includes a plate portion l 62 and an endless rim or flange It! having an upper curved portion and lower straight portion. Bolts I03 secure the casing element I90 to the upper casing part ii. As shown best by Fig. 6, the rim llll along its lower straight portion has a slot IE5 and this slot receives a swingable, segmental plate Hit. The plate 536 is pivoted on a smaller end portion ill? of a bushing I63 secured to the casing part It by a screw Hi9 threaded into the opposite end of the bushing. A second screw lie threaded into said smaller end of the bushing and engaging a washer Hi, holds the plate in place. In order to accommodate the movable spindle 26, the auxiliary casing element illil has a slot H aligned with the slot 21 in the casing, and the segmental plate int has a slot I 52 slightly angled to the radius and this slot receives the spindle 26. It follows that the spindle 26 may travel along the slots 2? and till. Wings H3 and H4 on the plate i636 cover the slot lit at all times during the movement of the plate and spindle.

As best shown by Fig. 3, the spindle 26 has a bushing H5 secured in its bearing 29, and this bushing has a short, annular rim lit which projects into the slot H2 in the segmental plate I66 and substantially corresponds in diameter to the width of such slot. Also the bushing has a head Ill provided with a semi-circular recess H8 which is adaptable to accommodate the spindle l5 when the movable spindleit'is moved closely adjacent thereto. The short rim 6 it on the bushing acts to prevent any direct engagement between the spindle and the segmental plate, and when the spindle is moved, the rim acts to move the segmental plate.

From the foregoing description, it should be evident that when the spindle 26 is adjusted relative to the spindle Hi, the bushing H5 carried by the movable spindle will swing the segmental plate 106 with it and cause it to move through the slot Hi5 while still substantially maintaining the slot closed. During this movement of the spindle 25 and the segmental plate, the slot I I0 is closed at all times It is evident that the segmental plate may be changed in dimensions as may be found most satisfactory and that the slot H2 may be changed in position as desired so as to close all openings around the spindle.

Although only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means supporting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, an idler member about which the element also is trained, and cam means for positively moving the idler member in a direction to take up slack when the second spindle is moved towards the first spindle.

2. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means supporting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, an idler member about which the element is also trained, and cam means operating in synchronism with the movement of the second spindle relative to the first spindle for maintaining the element taut during such relative movement of the spindles.

3. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means supporting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, an arm mounted for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the spindles and carrying an idler about which the element is trained, and automatic means for moving the arm so as to maintain the element taut when the second spindle is moved towards the first spindle.

4. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means sup-porting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, an arm mounted for swinging movement about the axis of the first spindle and carrying an idler wheel about which the element is trained, and cam means for moving the arm to maintain the element taut when the second spindle is moved relative to the first.

5. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means supporting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, an arm mounted for swinging movement about the axis of the first spindle and carrying an idler wheel about which the element is trained, a cam on said arm, and a cam follower carried with the movable bearing means and engaging the cam so as to move the arm and idler according to the contour of the cam.

6. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, sprockets on both spindles, an endless chain trained about the sprockets, bearing means for supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means for supporting the second spindle, an idler sprocket also engaged by the chain, and cam means governed by movement of the movable bearing means for moving the idler sprocket so as to keep the chain taut during such movement of the movable bearing means.

'7. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, sprockets on both spindles, an endless chain trained about the sprockets, bearing means for supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means for supporting the second spindle, an arm swingable about the axis of the first spindle, a sprocket carried by said arm and engaging the chain, means for adjustably moving the movable bearing means, and means for automatically moving the arm about its axis during adjustment of the movable bearing means so as to cause the chain to remain taut.

8. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, sprockets on both spindles, an endless chain trained about the sprockets, bearing means for supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means for supporting the second spindle, an arm wingable about the axis of the first spindle, an idler sprocket carried by said arm and engaging the chain, a cam surface extending along the arm, and a cam follower carried by the movable bearing means and engaging the cam surface, said surface being so shaped as to cause such movement of the arm and idler sprocket as to maintain the chain taut.

9. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means supporting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, cam means for positively taking up slack in the element when the second spindle is moved towards the first spindle, and means for adjustably moving the second spindle and holding it in any position of adjustment.

10. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising first and second parallel spindles, bearing means supporting the first spindle, movable bearing means supporting the second spindle so that it may be moved towards and from the first spindle while being maintained parallel thereto, means including a flexible, endless driving element trained about the spindles for driving one by the other, an arm swingable about the axis of the first spindle, an idler sprocket carried by th outer end of the arm and engaging the driving element, a cam surface extending along the arm, a cam follower carried by the movable bearing means for engaging the cam surface, and means for adjustably moving the movable bearing means and for holding it in any position of adjustment, the cam surface being so shaped as to cause such movement of the arm and idler sprocket as to maintain the chain taut.

11. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising a casing, first and second parallel spindle shafts extending from one side of the casing, bearing means for the first shaft, movable bearing means for the second shaft as to enable adjusting the second shaft towards and from the first shaft, said casing having a slot allowing adjustment of the second shaft relative to the first, and movable plate means operable to maintain the slot closed during said adjustment except for an opening through which the ssecond spindle shaft projects.

12. A multiple spindle mechanism comprising a casing, first and second parallel spindle shafts extending from one side of the casing, bearing means for the first shaft, movable bearing means for the second shaft so as to enable adjusting the second shaft towards and from the first haft, said casing having a slot allowing adjustment of the second shaft relative to the first, and mov- 'able plate means operable to maintain the slot REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or" this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,808,588 Allen June 2, 1931 743,730 Kirk Nov. 10, 1903 

